Panels removed to inspect exterior of U.S. Bank Stadium

U.S. Bank Stadium observers may notice this week that the $1.1 billion building in downtown Minneapolis is missing a few exterior panels.

Starting Thursday, workers began to remove metal panels as part of an inspection of the stadium’s exterior enclosure, Mortenson senior public relations manager Cameron Snyder said in an email.

Snyder noted the follow-up inspection is related to the “corrective work” completed earlier this year within the building’s snow gutter system.

“The process will involve temporary removal of some of the metal panels at various points on the building, which will allow workers to visually inspect the wall system underneath. The inspection should be completed within a few days and will not affect any scheduled events at the stadium,” Snyder wrote.

Representatives of Golden Valley-based Mortenson, the stadium design firm HKS of Dallas and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority are collaborating on the inspection, Snyder noted.

Mortenson said last February that a leak within the snow gutter would need a $3 million to $4 million fix, which required crews to remove exterior metal panels and the US Bank Stadium signage.

Water penetrated the exterior parapet wall of the snow gutters around the stadium’s perimeter, but didn’t reach occupied areas of the building, Mortenson senior vice president John Wood said in February.

The repair was completed before the stadium opened for its first event in August.

In early July, a storm caused 10 to 20 exterior zinc panels to come loose on the 1.75 million-square-foot building. None of the panels became disengaged from the building.